Is there a Purgatory? - Moved from Bible Chat

**John27** · Dec 21st 2008, 03:28 AM

Is there actually a purgatory? IS it defined in any scripture? My history class long ago made it sound like the church created the idea of purgatory to raise money? Is this true?

My RCIA class has got me questioning if Hell is real. I don't want to offend the brother by asking if Purgatpry is real or just an invention of the church?

kenrank · Dec 21st 2008, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by John27

Is there actually a purgatory? IS it defined in any scripture? My history class long ago made it sound like the church created the idea of purgatory to raise money? Is this true?

My RCIA class has got me questioning if Hell is real. I don't want to offend the brother by asking if Purgatpry is real or just an invention of the church?

I am pretty sure that if you do a good internet search, and weigh through it all, what you will find is similar to what you learned in class. If seems that purgatory was "created" around 1100. Though the circumstances around why they did this aren't cystal clear, it would seem that they were indeed broke and promised short stays in purgatory for their faithful in exchange for $ now or willed property later.

Peace.
Ken

***Joe King*** · Dec 21st 2008, 06:43 AM

Why don't you just search biblegateway.com. Scripture should be the basis for everything.

***crossnote*** · Dec 21st 2008, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by John27

Is there actually a purgatory? IS it defined in any scripture? My history class long ago made it sound like the church created the idea of purgatory to raise money? Is this true?

My RCIA class has got me questioning if Hell is real. I don't want to offend the brother by asking if Purgatpry is real or just an invention of the church?

Roman Catholics dig into their Apocrypha e.g. 2nd Maccabees to derive such a doctrine as purgatory. Their bigger mistake though was to add to the idea of purgatory a means (indulgences) by which a person still living could pay to spring an early release of their loved one from having to suffer an extended amount of time in purgatory as a means to pay for their sins.
Both paying for ones sins either through money or suffering in purgatory is an affront to the Gospel in which Christ's death is sufficient payment for our sins thus nulling the need for a so called purgatory.

**Gauntlet** · Mar 2nd 2009, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by crossnote

Roman Catholics dig into their Apocrypha e.g. 2nd Maccabees to derive such a doctrine as purgatory. Their bigger mistake though was to add to the idea of purgatory a means (indulgences) by which a person still living could pay to spring an early release of their loved one from having to suffer an extended amount of time in purgatory as a means to pay for their sins.
Both paying for ones sins either through money or suffering in purgatory is an affront to the Gospel in which Christ's death is sufficient payment for our sins thus nulling the need for a so called purgatory.

I understand all this now. I understand why the notion of purgatory meets with such scorn and contempt here at BibleForums. So it's just one of many schemes the Catholic Church had going around that time. Don't misunderstand me, I was aware that Rome was at one time essentially the largest & most powerful criminal organization on Earth.

Paying indulgences seems equally unethical.

***JesusReignsForever*** · Mar 2nd 2009, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by John27

Is there actually a purgatory? IS it defined in any scripture? My history class long ago made it sound like the church created the idea of purgatory to raise money? Is this true?

My RCIA class has got me questioning if Hell is real. I don't want to offend the brother by asking if Purgatpry is real or just an invention of the church?

If there is a purgatory why would Jesus of came in the first place??

***keck553*** · Mar 2nd 2009, 05:32 PM

Anything that is not in the Bible, is made up my man.

**Gauntlet** · Mar 3rd 2009, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by keck553

Anything that is not in the Bible, is made up my man.

Okay, what about the Seven Deadly Sins? I'm pretty sure they are extra-biblical, but they seem very true-to-life. Can the Seven Deadly Sins be considered canon?

***threebigrocks*** · Mar 3rd 2009, 02:31 AM

This is a discussion that is required to be discussed in the World Religion forums as it is dealing with RCC doctrine. Moving it there for continued discussion.

***reformedct*** · Mar 3rd 2009, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by Gauntlet1979

Okay, what about the Seven Deadly Sins? I'm pretty sure they are extra-biblical, but they seem very true-to-life. Can the Seven Deadly Sins be considered canon?

i havent heard the phrase "Seven Deadly Sins" in years. i do know there are seven things that the Lord hates, but anyways, this is about purgatory.

just think....

if we could pay for sins...

Jesus was unnescessary

why shed blood when we can just pay a sin tax. much cleaner, less tragic.

**AlanR742** · Mar 3rd 2009, 03:39 AM

yes of course, hence Galatians 2:21.

Purgatory has many errors, supposedly the verse they use in maccabees has conflicts with the very doctrine itself.

***threebigrocks*** · Mar 3rd 2009, 03:46 AM

Guys, just as we do not allow promotion of the beliefs than can only be discussed here - neither are we going to allow any further ripping apart of those same beliefs. Discuss to better know and to refute with scripture in a Christlike manner. Further nasty comments will most likely get this thread closed.